A HUGE stride forward has been taken in bringing fully recognised university-level education to Basingstoke.

Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) has partnered up with Southampton Solent University to offer a chartered manager degree apprenticeship (CMDA) from May, becoming the first provider in Basingstoke to provide degree apprenticeships.

The fast-track two-year degree programme is aimed at higher level professional managers looking to progress their career with graduate-level leadership, business and management know-how.

BCoT principal Anthony Bravo said: “This is a very exciting development in our partnership with Southampton Solent University who we already offer a number of higher education courses through.

“We know how busy professional managers can be so having the opportunity to study a university degree level programme here at BCoT is going to be much more convenient, cost effective and less time consuming.

“There are also huge benefits for local employers looking to invest in their workforce, strengthening the leadership and management skills of their people.”

Tere Daly, pro vice-chancellor at Southampton Solent University said: “Working in partnership with BCoT to deliver our CMDA fast-track programme provides local employers with the perfect opportunity to upskill managers at a location that is suitable for them.”

Because the CMDA is an apprenticeship programme, employers who pay the levy will be able to use their levy funds to pay for the training and those who do not pay the levy will be able to access government funding to pay 90 per cent of the training costs.

Mr Bravo added: “Employers keen to invest in their workforce, but worried that the CMDA will bear too much financial commitment, should be assured that the cost of the programme can be met through the business’ Apprenticeship Levy Fund or a 10 per cent employer contribution with the remainder being funded directly from the government.”

The programme is a mix of classroom based study at BCoT, flexibly designed to fit around work commitments.

Students are expected to attend the equivalent of five weekends of Friday to Sunday per year for the class-based lessons.

For further information on the CMDA course being delivered at BCoT, email Claire.morris@bcot.

ac.uk.